The Best Smith Machine for Your Home Gym in 2025

The Smith machine is a popular option for lifting without a spotter, and you don’t need a gym membership to enjoy its benefits. This equipment is a great home gym addition that provides extra protection for your bench presses, squats, deadlifts, rows, lunges, and more. Here are our top picks for the best Smith machine, plus Mauro S. Maietta, district fitness and education manager for Crunch Fitness, details the benefits and what to consider when choosing.

Our Picks for the Best Smith Machines of 2025:

This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.

Best All-in-One Smith Machine: Force USA G10 Pro All-in-One Trainer

If you are looking for a comprehensive Smith machine with multiple functions and a wide variety of additional parts, this Force USA all-in-one trainer helps you optimize and streamline your workout. It’s a highly customizable unit that combines eight strength training stations with 18 attachments into one convenient machine, allowing you to perform over 375 exercise moves.

The basic machine includes eight strength training options: A power rack, functional trainer, low row attachment, multi-grip chin-up/pull-up station, dip station, suspension trainer, and Smith machine. One of the machine’s unique aspects is its interchangeable cable ratio system, which allows you to easily switch between a pulley ratio of 2:1 to 4:1. This makes the equipment more accessible to users of different levels.

The G10’s Smith machine fixed barbell is compatible with Olympic weight plates and can support up to 772 pounds. Smith machine features include commercial-grade guide rails, linear bearings, reinforced bushings, and 14 racking levels. This Smith machine is a great strength-building option when you don’t have a spotter since it comes with an adjustable spring-loaded safety, safe lock and release mechanisms, and a safety catch.

In addition to the eight initial stations, Force USA offers many upgrades, including benches, bars, bumpers, and more strength training stations.

Best Budget Smith Machine: Sunny Health and Fitness Smith Machine Squat Rack Essential Series

Sunny Health and Fitness is known for its budget-friendly workout equipment, and at only $699.99, this unit is an excellent option for those looking for an affordable Smith machine. This equipment offers the basics to achieve moves like squats, bench presses (weight bench not included), and pull-ups. The Smith machine Squat Rack Essential Series has a multi-grip pull-up bar, a 15-pound barbell with safety clips, and weight plate storage. The machine also features 21 adjustable height settings.

This Smith unit allows you to move the barbell in a smooth vertical direction. Spotter blocks help ensure a safer experience, and you can bolt the machine to the floor for extra stability. If you upgrade to heavier weights, remember the squat bar is compatible with one-inch diameter weight plates only.

While this Smith machine comes with limited attachments, you can use it with various Sunny Health and Fitness upgrades to customize your workout needs. For example, resistance band handles allow you to incorporate resistance training into your routine. With your own weight bench, you can perform shoulder and bench presses.

Best 2:1 Pulley Ratio Smith Machine: Force USA G3 All-in-One Trainer

Force USA G3

4.0

• Footprint: 40.5 inches W x 79 inches H x 49.5 inches D
• Who Should and Shouldn’t Buy: Great for those with limited workout space who want an all-in-one machine for a more affordable price than the G10; if you want lots of upgrades but have a limited budget, this may not be the right machine for you
• Price: $2,000

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The Force USA G3 is a versatile entry-level Smith machine trainer. Like the G10, it combines multiple gym machines into one, making it a convenient space-saving option. Force USA updated the Gen 2 of the G3 for 2024, so you get a solid, up-to-date machine that can support up to 11 strength training stations.

The G3 has a power rack, functional trainer, chinup station, suspension trainer station, landmine core trainer, and Smith machine. The Smith machine has a knurled barbell with a weight capacity of up to 772 pounds of Olympic weight plates to perform exercises like presses and deadlifts. It has a 2:1 ratio, so you lift half of your loaded resistance with the G3 rather than the exact resistance. For example, if you load 200 pounds, you’re lifting 100 pounds.

This machine does not come with a leg press, dip station, or low row. For an additional $200, you can get the G3 Upgrade Kit, which includes a low-row footplate, lat pulldown seat, lat pulldown bar, and close-grip triangle. Other upgrade options include additional bars, benches, and home gym flooring.

Best Smith Machine with Bench: Marcy Diamond 9010 Smith Cage

MARCY Smith Cage Workout Machine

• Footprint: 79 inches W x 86 inches H x 95 inches D
• Who Should and Shouldn’t Buy: Great option for those looking for a convenient all-in-one home gym solution, including a weight bench; not a good option for those weighing over 300 pounds or looking for a rackable capacity of over 300 pounds
• Price: $1,300

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With the Marcy Diamond 9010 Smith Cage, you can select between a Smith workout, free weights, or resistance cable machine to get a full-body workout. This cage conveniently comes with a Marcy Olympic weight bench, so you have almost everything you need to start your workout.

This machine’s versatility is excellent for targeting multiple muscle groups, including shoulders, arms, back, and legs. The dual upper pulley cable and lower cables allow you to perform exercises like cable crossovers and kneeling lat pulldowns. Use the footplate with the lower pulley for seated rows. The Smith machine is ideal for squats, bench presses, and deadlifts. It doesn’t have a foldable weight bench to save space, but it has adjustable features like a preacher curl pad and leg developer to level up your legs and biceps.

The Smith station of the machine provides a great solution for lifting without a spotter. The Marcy Smith track is created on a seven-degree angle rather than entirely vertical to give a more natural, ergonomic movement. Remember the Smith machine comes with an Olympic Smith bar, which weighs 15 pounds but does not come with additional weight plates. This machine is compatible with one-inch diameter hole standard weight plates and two-inch diameter hole Olympic plates (but mixing them is not recommended). You need your own plates, such as bumper plates or iron plates, to add resistance to the cable system.

Best Smith Machine on Amazon: Valor Fitness BE-11

Valor Fitness Smith Machine Home Gym Equipment

• Footprint: 85 inches W x 80 inches H x 53 inches D
• Who Should and Shouldn’t Buy: This is a great piece of equipment for someone who wants a durable, straightforward Smith machine and has limited space; it’s not a good option for those who want to use standard plates
• Price: $1,185

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If you are looking for a heavy-duty Smith machine that allows you to lift safely without a spotter, Valor Fitness BE-11 may be the right unit for you. This 12-gauge steel machine is durable and stable, supporting a maximum weight load of 500 pounds. The machine features a three-degree reverse pitch designed to provide a smooth, ergonomic, and secure motion free from carriage resistance.

The Valor Fitness BE-11 comes with a 36-pound knurled steel bar. It is compatible with two-inch Olympic plates and includes four Olympic plate storage pegs. Chrome safety hooks catch onto chrome pegs to help you achieve a safe Smith machine workout, and there is spring steel to absorb shock and safety brackets.

While the Valor Fitness BE-11 is not an all-in-one machine with multiple stations like some of the other options on this list, this is a solid unit great for challenging Smith machine exercises, including lifts, bench presses, squats, and more.

What Is a Smith Machine?

A Smith machine is fitness equipment used to safely weight train without a spotter.

“The Smith machine can be seen as the Swiss army knife of the weight room since it allows for several strength training exercises in its fixed vertical path, ranging from squats to overhead pressing movements,” says Maietta.

The machine’s construction includes a barbell within vertical (or slightly angled) steel rails. This location allows you to perform exercises by moving the barbell up and down within the steel rails while preventing you from dangerously dropping the bar backward or forward. The Smith machine includes built-in safety features to catch the barbell if you need to drop it. Some Smith machines are all-in-one trainers with multiple workout stations, while others are basic Smith machine units.

Benefits of a Smith Machine

• You can use the machine without a spotter
• The machine is designed to provide an extra layer of safety and may help prevent injury
• Smith machines can target multiple muscle groups and provide a full-body workout
• Smith machines are great for home gyms and are available at multiple price points, including budget-friendly options
• They are a good option for beginners

“The Smith machine helps the athlete feel supported and gives them greater control and stability when performing an exercise,” says Maietta.

How To Use a Smith Machine

Exercisers use Smith machines for exercises who lift weight in a vertical (or nearly vertical) path, including squats, bench presses, lunges, hip thrusts, deadlifts, and rows.

You can load the barbell with weight plates to determine your challenge. To get the most out of the specific machine, familiarize yourself with the manufacturer’s instructions and safety features. If you are new to using Smith machines, consult with a fitness pro to ensure proper use and form.

Maietta says to start with lighter weights to get a feel for the range of motion before progressing. “The fixed range of motion is not for everyone, so be sure to speak with your local fitness professional and listen to your body and joints if you feel any discomfort or pain during the planned movements,” he says.

How To Choose the Best Smith Machine for Your Home Gym

Size

Consider the machine’s footprint when determining if it is a good fit for your needs. One benefit of Smith machines is all-in-one trainers are available to consolidate the space needed for multiple workout stations.

Other Functions

Many of the home gym Smith machine options on this list are designed as all-in-one trainers designed to provide multiple workout functions with one convenient machine. The machine can include stations for a power rack, functional trainer, low-row attachment, chin-ups/pull-ups, dips, suspension trainers, and more.

Weight Ratio

Smith machines offer pulley systems with varying weight ratios, including 1:1 and 2:1. A 1:1 ratio means the weight you load is the exact weight you lift. A 2:1 ratio means you lift half of the weight you load. For instance, with a 2:1 ratio, if you load 100 pounds, you lift 50 pounds.

Some Force USA Smith machines allow users to easily switch between 2:1 and 4:1 ratios, which is helpful when people of various skills use the same machine.

Weight Capacity

Weight capacities vary depending on the functions offered by the machine. The weight capacities on this list start at 300 pounds. Be sure to confirm the machine’s weight capacity can accommodate your needs.

How We Chose the Best Smith Machines

We selected the best Smith machines based on size, weight, rackable capacity, functions, and attachments included with the unit. We considered various budgets while evaluating the quality of the machine for each price. We also considered the manufacturer’s reputation and reviews.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for versatile strength-building home gym equipment to achieve a full-body workout, a Smith machine can help you achieve your goals. Since the 1950s, this game-changing machine has allowed gym-goers to work out safely without a spotter. Today, there is a wide range of consumer options, allowing you to experience the benefits of the Smith machine in the comfort of your own home gym.

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